Strawberry plant named &#39;civl519&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘CIVL519’. This new strawberry plant named ‘CIVL519’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of Mediterranean and subtropical areas, and is primarily characterized by plants with compact leaves and visible fruits; easy to collect; fruits with regular and conical shape; easy to pollinate; excellent firmness consistency; and great taste with high sugar content and aroma.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier.

Variety denomination: ‘CIVL519’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Community Plant Variety Rights Application No. 2021/1224, filed May 5, 2021.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘CIVL519’. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier.

The new strawberry ‘CIVL519’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Michelangelo Leis in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new strawberry variety with high resistance to leaf and root disease. Fruits with regular and conical shape, bright colour, excellent consistence, good taste and aroma even high temperatures.

This new strawberry ‘CIVL519’ is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors in 2013, in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The female or seed parent is strawberry variety designated 9E1D-19 (unpatented CIV's selection). The male or pollen parent is strawberry variety designated 5F1I-1 (unpatented CIV's selection).

The new strawberry ‘CIVL519’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2016 in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy (44° 45′ North and 12° 11′ East). After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in different European area with low chill condition. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CIVL519’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing with low chill condition. This area provides the needed and correct temperatures for flower induction, and to produce a strong and vigorous plant, and to maintain fruit quality during full production.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘CIVL519’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. plants with compact habit and visible fruits;     -   2. easy to collect;     -   3. fruits with regular and conical shape;     -   4. easy to pollinate;     -   5. excellent consistency; and     -   6. great taste with high sugar content and aroma.

Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVL519’ differ from plants of the parents, 5F1I-1 and 9E1D-19 in the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ 5F1I-1 9E1D-19 Time of ripening Very early to Medium Early early Grow habit Semi-upright Upright Semi-upright Plant vigour Weak Medium Medium to strong Fruit size Large to Medium Large very large Firmness Strong Firm Medium Sweetness Higher Medium to Medium high

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new strawberry variety ‘CIVL519’ is the strawberry variety VENTANA. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVL519’ differ from plants of strawberry variety VENTANA in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ VENTANA Grow habit Semi-upright Semi-upright Plant vigour Weak Medium Fruit size Large to very large Large Firmness Strong Medium Sweetness Higher Medium Time of beginning of Very early Early flowering Time of beginning of Very early Early ripening

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVL519’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘CIVL519’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVL519’ were taken in Battipaglia, Salerno, Italy, and are approximately 6 to 9 months old.

FIG. 1 shows typical flowers of ‘CIVL519’;

FIG. 2 shows the leaves of ‘CIVL519’;

FIG. 3 shows typical fruits of ‘CIVL519’;

FIG. 4 shows plant of ‘CIVL519’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘CIVL519’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new strawberry variety ‘CIVL519’, unless otherwise noted, taken during March 2020 growing season in Battipaglia, Salerno, Italy. The observations, measurements and values were taken from plants of ‘CIVL519’ dug from Vivai Mazzoni Polska sp.z.o.o., Regon 240016883, kostomloty II 29, 21-509 Koden-Polonia, during October 2019 and planted approximately in the same month in CIV's test fields in Battipaglia, Salerno, Italy. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVL519’ were grown under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. The observed plants were one year old plants. The plants used in the production field are produced in a nursery in Vivai Mazzoni Polska sp.z.o.o., Regon 240016883, kostomloty II 29, 21-509 Koden-Polonia.

Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from 2019 of data collected from the 2019 through 2021 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 3 pm in Battipaglia (SA) Italy. The approximate age of the observed plants is about 12 months.

The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘CIVL519’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ Color of mature fruit Red group—RHS 45A Color of internal flesh Red group—RHS 4 ID Length (cm) About 5.5 cm Width (cm) About 3.5 cm Ratio length/width Moderately longer Calyx diameter (cm) About 4.5 cm Average weight (gm) About 23 g Achene color Yellow-green group 150C Number of achenes per cm² About 7 measured at the center of berry Average weight of About 0.67 g 1000 achenes (g) Marketable yield (gm/plt) Average 450 gm/plt Size Large Predominant shape Conical Difference in shapes Slight between primary and secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent Unevenness of surface Even or slightly uneven Evenness of color Strong Glossiness Strong Insertion of achenes Level with surface Insertion of calyx Level with fruit Attitude of the calyx Upward Size of calyx in relation to Slightly larger fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Strong Firmness of skin Firm Firmness of flesh Firm Distribution of red color Uniform of the flesh Hollow center expression Absent or small Flavor Good tase with good aroma and sugar content Soluble solids (% brix) About 9% Time of first flowering Very early Time of first harvesting Very early Harvest period From January until June in Battipaglia, Salerno, Italy Type of bearing Not remontant

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ Height (cm) About 10 to 20 cm Spread (cm) About 30 to 40 cm Size Medium Habit Semi-upright Density Medium Vigor Weak

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ Average number per plant About 15-20 Anthocyanin coloration Red group—53B Anthocyanin intensity Medium Diameter at bract (mm) About 3 mm Pubescence Dense

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ Foliage: Color of upper surface Green group—137A Color of underside Green group—137C Shape in cross section Concave Interveinal blistering Medium Glossiness Medium Number of leaflets 3 Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) About 6.1 cm Width (cm) About 6.5 cm Length/width ratio Equal Serrations/leaf Overlapping Size Medium Shape of base Rounded Shape of teeth Serrate to crenate Petiole: Length (cm) About 13 cm Diameter (mm) About 2.7 mm Pubescence Medium Attitude of hairs Horizontal Stipule: Length (mm) About 35 mm Width (mm) About 9 mm Anthocyanin coloration Weak Color Yellow-green group 145C

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ Length (cm) About 20-25 cm Attitude Erect Position relative to foliage Above Pubescence Strong Anthocyanin intensity Weak Attitude at first pick Horizontal

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ Petal color Mature (upper) White group—155D Mature (lower) White group—155D Petal shape Overall Transverse elliptic Apex Rounded Base Rounded Petal length (mm) About 1 to 1.5 cm Petal width (mm) About 0.80 to 1.3 cm Petal length/width ratio Moderately longer Number of petals/flower About 5 to 7 Sepals color Mature (upper) Green group—137A Mature (lower) Green group—138A Sepal shape Overall Narrow elliptic Apex Pointed Base Flat Sepal length (mm) From 1 to 1.5 cm Sepal width (mm) From 0.5 to 0.7 cm Sepal length/width ratio Longer Number of sepals/flower About 9 to 13 Corolla diameter (mm) About 30 mm Calyx diameter (mm) About 30 mm Size of calyx relative to Equal corolla Size of inner calyx Smaller relative to outer calyx Relative position of petals Overlapping

TABLE 9 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ Receptacle color Yellow green group—154B Pollen color Yellow orange group—14A Stamen Present Pollen amount Much

TABLE 10 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS Characteristic ‘CIVL519’ Powdery mildew Tollerant (Sphaerotheca macularis) Angular leaf spot Moderately susceptible (Xanthomonas fragariae) Botrytis fruit rot Very low sensibility (Botrytis cinerea) Fusarium wilt Moderately susceptible (Fusarium oxysporum) Anthracnose crown rot Moderately susceptible (Colletotrichum fragariae) Two-spotted spider mite Susceptible (Tetranychus urticae) 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘CIVL519’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 